Portable traffic signal and the like



E. F. SWANSON PORTABLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE LIKE Sept. 30, 1952 Filed June 28, 1949 INVENTOR.

Array/1.

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable traffic signals and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a portable traffic signal constituting a complete unit which is well adapted for use in school zones, parked truck signals, blocked or defective highway signals and the like.

Second, to provide a signal of this character which is compact and light in weight and at the same time stable.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention'will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable signal embodying my invention with the supplementary indicia signal collapsed.

Fig. 2 is a view mainly in vertical transverse section with the supplementary panel in erected position and shown in collapsed position by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front perspective view with the supplementary panel in erected position.

comprises a housing preferably formed of sheet metal having a bottom I, front wall 2, upwardly tapered end walls 3, and top 4. The rear wall consists of a flxed bottom section 5 and a swingable door section 8 hinged at l to the upper edge of the bottom section. The door section is provided with side flanges 8 which close over the end Walls 3 and a top flange 9 which closes over the top i. The top is provided with pivoted latches it which engage over the stud-like keepers I i on the top flange 9.

The end walls, only one of which is illustrated as the other is a duplicate, are provided with handles 12. The front wall is adapted to receive signal indicia, the words Drive Slowly appearing in the embodiment illustrated. The front panel is provided with a window opening l3 which is provided with a translucent closure it desirably colored red or amber, red being'the color commonly used. The lamp reflector I5 is mounted in opposed relation to the closure [4 and is provided with a lamp socket It to receive the lamp indicated at ll.

The bottom l is provided with supports 18 for the battery l9. lhe switch 20 is mounted on the inner side of the top with the switch button or The embodiment of my invention illustrated control 2i projecting through the top. A fuse 22 is interposed in the connection 23 for the battery to the switch. The lamp is connected to the battery through the connection indicated at 20, and the switch is connected to the lamp through the connection 25 having a flasher 26-interposed therein. These connections are shown conventionally.

In the interest of compactness, I preferably provide a supplemental indicia panel 27 which is hinged at 23 to the housing to collapse forwardly over the window opening as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In the embodiment illustrated this supplemental panel has the word School on its face. It is held in erected position by means of the bale-like strut 29 which is pivoted to the top at 30 and is engageable with the keeper 1-H. A turn button 32 is provided and positioned to be swung into the keeper above the strut engaged therewith for retaining the parts in erected position.

While the embodiment of my invention is specially designed for use in school zones and is light in weight so that it can be carried about by children, it is, with proper indicia, well adapted for use as road block signals or may be carried by truckers for use instead of flares which are now largely used.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not atempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable traffic signal and the like, a housing comprising a bottom, a top, a front Wall, end walls and a rear wall, said front wall constituting an indicia panel and having a window adjacent the top thereof provided with a translucent closure, a lamp mounted within said housing in opposed relation to said Window closure. a supplementary indicia panel hingedly mounted on said housing on a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the front wall to be swung to erected position to constitute an extension for said front wall or to collapse forwardly over said window, the indicia on the supplementary panel being disposed forwardly in view when the panel is erected and rearwardly out of view when the panel is collapsed, and a bale-like supporting strut pivotally mounted on the top, said supplementary panel being provided with a keeper on its rear side with which said strut may be engaged when the panel is in erected position.

2. In a portable traffic signal and the like, a housing comprising a bottom, a top, a front wall and end walls, said front wall constituting an indicia panel and having a window adjacent the top thereof provided with a translucent closure, a lamp mounted within said housing in opposed relation to said window closure, a supplementary indicia panel hingedly mounted on said housing on a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the front wall to be swung to erected position to constitute an extension for said front wall or to collapse forwardl over said window, the indicia on the supplementary panel being disposed forwardly in view when the panel is erected and rearwardly out of view when the panel is collapsed, and a supporting strut pivotally mounted on the top, said supplementary panel being provided with a keeper on its rear side with which said strut maybe engaged when the panel is in erected position.

3. In a portable traffic signal and the like, a housing comprising a bottom, a top, end walls, a front wall and a rear closure member, said housing being adapted for receiving a battery, a lamp and control elements therefor, battery supporting means in the lower portion of the housing, said front wall having a window opening, a lamp in the housing for illuminating the opening, a panel member having indicia associated with one side thereof, said panel member being pivotally supported on the housing on an axis disposed horizontally and parallel to the front wall to permit the panel member to be swung upwardly to an erected position and downwardly to a collapsed position overlapping the front wall, said indicia on the panel member being disposed forwardly in view when the panel member is erected and rearwardly out of View when collapsed, and means associated with the housing for releasably retaining the panel member in erected position.

4. In a portable traffic signal and the like, a housing comprising a bottom, a top, end walls, a front wall and a rear wall, said housing being adapted for receiving a lamp and control elements therefor, said front wall having an opening'therein, a lamp in the housing for illuminating the opening, a panel member pivotally supported on the housing on a horizontal axis parallel to the front wall to permit the panel member to be swung upwardly to an erected position and downwardly to a collapsed position, said front wall and panel having indicia associated therewith, said indicia being in View when the panel member is erected and out of View when collapsed, and means associated with the housing for releasably retaining the panel member in erected position.

EARNEST F. SWANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,779 Francke Dec. 27, 1898 1,414,173 Brown Apr. 25, 1922 1,822,619 Grossman Sept. 8, 1931 2,035,841 Signor Mar. 31, 1936 2,280,458 Hummert Feb. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,256 Great Britain of 1912 339,635 Germany July 29, 1921 

